Calls for Papers

Supernatural Studies accepts submissions for general issues on a rolling basis. See submission guidelines for full information. Calls for special issues and deadlines for consideration for guaranteed inclusion in the next general issues may be found below.

Call for Papers, Spring 2018 Issue

Supernatural Studies is a peer-reviewed journal that promotes rigorous yet accessible scholarship in the growing field of representations of the supernatural, the speculative, the uncanny, and the weird. The breadth of “the supernatural” as a category creates the potential for interplay among otherwise disparate individual studies that will ideally produce not only new work but also increased dialogue and new directions of scholarly inquiry. To that end, the editorial board welcomes submissions employing any theoretical perspective or methodological approach and engaging with any period and representations including but not limited to those in literature, film, television, video games, and other cultural texts and artifacts.

Submissions should be 5,000 to 8,000 words, including notes but excluding Works Cited, and follow the MLA Handbook, 8th ed. (2016); notes should be indicated by superscript Arabic numerals in text and pasted at the end of the article. International submissions should adhere to the conventions of U.S. English spelling, usage, and punctuation. Manuscripts should contain no identifying information, and each submission will undergo blind peer review by at least two readers. Contributors are responsible for obtaining any necessary permissions and ensuring observance of copyright. Submissions should be emailed to supernaturalstudies@gmail.com as an attached Microsoft Word file. The deadline for guaranteed consideration for the Spring 2018 issue is 1 April 2018.

Call for Papers, Fall/Winter 2018 Special Issue: Twin Peaks

Guest Editor: Franck Boulègue, co-editor of the book Fan Phenomena: Twin Peaks (2013) and author of the book Twin Peaks: Unwrapping the Plastic (2016).

Supernatural Studies is seeking contributions for its Fall 2018 issue that will be dedicated to the world of Twin Peaks.

The cult series returned to television in May 2017 for its long awaited third season, 25 years after the premature end of the show (a first in television history!). In addition, Mark Frost's latest book, The Secret History of Twin Peaks, has revealed new elements of the mythology surrounding this small northwestern town. With these developments in mind, the time seems appropriate to publish a collection of essays that explore various aspects of the series linked to the supernatural.

However, Twin Peaks is more than just a television series, it is a microcosm of its own spanning a variety of media. This issue will not only focus on the works of David Lynch, but also on books written by Mark Frost, Jennifer Lynch, Scott Frost and others, all set within the Twin Peaks universe.

The following themes may provide a springboard for exploring the supernatural in relation to Twin Peaks (additional subjects are welcome):

- Hollow Earth theories

- Shangri-La

- Lemuria

- Ancient Aliens

- Astrology

- Theosophy

- Free Masonry

- Native American mythologies

- Transcendental Meditation and the vedic tradition

- Parallel realities and alternate timelines

This issue will also include book reviews of titles linked to Twin Peaks - and possibly reviews of other titles in Mark Frost's bibliography, as their mythology parallels the supernatural tropes and folklore found in Twin Peaks.